Touch Football Australia CEO Colm Maguire launched the ‘It All Starts Here' campaign in Canberra along with prominent Canberra Raiders players in conjunction with the 2015 Silent Sports Challenge event at Reconciliation Park.

Maguire said the Silent Sports challenges event “showcased the inclusive elements and diverse nature of the sport offerings; catering for, and participating in, national community initiatives including National Hearing Awareness Week 23-28 August 2015”.

The It All Starts Here campaign aims to encourage juniors and seniors along with community groups and other sports to dust off their boots and participate in the many fun, social and inclusive Touch Football competitions and programs on offer in 2015-16.

“As we see here today Touch Football is a very inclusive, diverse and social sport; catering for both genders, a wide variety of ages, abilities and communities with an extensive national footprint,” Maguire said.

“So, the message is to get out and register with your friends and teammates into new season competitions conducted across the country; for all registration and contact information go to PlayNRL.com and State Touch Football websites and social media channels,” he said.

The campaign launch featuring Canberra Raiders players showcasing their Touch skills, highlights the dual pathway development and links between the NRL and Touch Football and transitional recruitment into both codes; particularly out of Winter rugby league competitions.

“Players from NRL, Rugby League clubs and indeed across all sports are encouraged to do the same – following the Raiders players and the likes of Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan who cut their teeth as fine Touch football talent to improve their fitness and skills over the upcoming Summer months,” Maguire added.